Addressing machine



Aug. 3, 1954 B. H. WOODRUFF ADDRESSING MACHINE Filed Oct. 5 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ,Ben 17, Z/oadrzzfi A H W In Q Aug 3, 1954 B. H. WOODRUFF ADDRESSING momma 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 5 1950 INVENTOR.

yea/(gruff Aug. 3, 1954 B. H. WOODRUFF ADDRESSING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 0013'. 5 1950 INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 3, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,685,250 ADDRESSING MACHINE Ben H; Woodrufi, Chicago, Ill. Application October 3, 1950, Serial 188,104

12 Claims; 1

This invention relates to an addressing machine.

More particularly, the invention relates to an addressing machine of the type wherein a sheet of paper, envelope, or the like, to be addressed, is pressed against a strip of material bearing addresses to be applied. The machine incorporates an automatically operating means for moving each succeeding intelligence bearing a'rea of the strip into transcribing position on the machine between successive operations of the machine.

One of the greatest difliculties encountered in the design of automatic strip moving addressing machines of the above described type, has been the provision of a means for moving an intelligence strip having intelligence bearing areas of different proportions. For example, assume that the strip contains names and addresses for addressing envelopes, and that the number of lines in one name and address, or intelligence bearing area, may vary from the number of lines in the next area; that is, one area may contain two lines, the next may contain three or four. From this it can be appreciated that the physical length of the intelligence bearing strip to be transported between successive transcribing op erations will vary. The physical length of the strip to be transported might also vary due to the fact that some areas were prepared on different typewriters, or by other means having different size print, and spacing between lines. Consequently, the means for automatically moving the strip must be capable of moving the strip a variable amount without requiring too great effort or time on the part of an operator toproperly center a desired area of the strip in transcribing position.

In addition to the above prerequisite, the movement of the strip must be properly correlated with the transcribing operation so that movement of the strip does not occur during, or so soon after,

the transcribing operation as to cause smearing of transferred intelligence. For this reason, and because it might be desired to transfer the intelli ence of a particular area to several envelopes, the transcribing apparatus should be movable a distance sufficient to allow an exchange of envelopes to be addressed, without causing movement of the strip. Provision of this feature would also allow the operator to check the effectiveness of the transfer, prior to movement of the strip. Further, in order that an operator not be required to spend time in rewinding the machine after completing a series of addressing operations, it is desirable that the intelligence bearing strip be automatically movable in two directions.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide an improved addressing inachine of the type wherein a strip having ad dresses thereon is moved between successive addressing operations of the machine to place a new portion of the strip in addressing position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic feeding; addressing machine wherein the automatic positioning of the intelligence bearing strip can be controlled by the operator of the machine during the entire feeding interval.

Still another object or the invention is to' provide an automatic feeding, addressing machine which operates in such a manner that multiple impressions of any address can be made prior to commencement of its feeding action.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic feeding addressing machine where in an intelligence bearing strip can be automatically fed between successive transcribing operations in either direction and therefore does not require time consuming rewinding after each series of operations.

A feature of the invention is the provision of an addressing machine having means for automatically feeding an intelligencebearing strip into transcribing position during the retracting movement of the machine operating handle, with the feeding means being controlled by the movement imparted to the handle.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of an addressing machine having clutch means providing a lost motion, one-way connection between the operating handle of the machine and the spool on which a strip bearing addresses is wound.

A. further feature of the invention is the provision of an addressing machine having automatic feeding means for an intelligence bearing strip, including a longitudinally adjustable drive shaft that can be positioned to apply power to either one of two supporting spools rotatably mounted in the machine and on which the intelligence bearing strip is Wound.

Other objects, features, and attendant advantages of this invention will be better understood upon reference to the following detailed description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. I is a perspective view of one embodiment of an addressing machine constructed in accord-- ance with the invention, which illustrates the manner in which the machine is used.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the addressing machine shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the machine shown in Fig. 1, taken through plane 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken through plane 5-5 of Fig. l, and showing the clutch means of the machine;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken through plane 5-6 of Fig. 2 and showing the manner in which the strip supporting spools are mounted on the machine;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary View of the machine showing the construction of the moistening means;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modifled form of a motion transmitting means capable of use in the addressing machine shown in Fig. l, and which provide take-up action on only one spool; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side sectional view of the motion transmitting means shown in Fig. 8, and taken through plane 9 of Fig. 8.

In practicing the invention, an addressing machine is provided, for transferring the intelligence inscribed on a strip of material in a prepared ink. The machine includes a housing having first and second spools rotatably supported thereon for receiving the ends of the strip of material secured thereto. Positioned between the spools, is a backing plate across which the strip of material is moved. Aligned with the backing plate is a moistening mean including a well containing the moistening fluid having a roller therein which picks up the moistening liquid, and transfers the same to a sheet of paper, such as an envelope to be addressed, that is rolled across it. Cooperating with the back plate is a pressure plate for pressing the sheet of paper firmly against the strip containin the intelligence to be transcribed so that the moistened paper contacts the ink and the address is transferred to the paper. The pressure plate is attached on an operating member pivotally mounted on the housing, and having a lever extension. The lever extension cooperates with a motion transmitting means that is operatively connected to one of the spools for selectively rotating the said spool in one direction only, a variable amount determined by the movement of the operating member. In one embodiment of the invention, the motion transmitting means includes a gear tooth portion of the lever extension on the operating member, and a main drive gear meshing with the geared portion of the lever extension. The main drive gear is operatively connected through a lost motion, one- Way rotation imparting clutch to a spool driving means which selectively rotates the spool in one direction only a distance determined by the amount of movement of the operating handle. A reversing mechanism is provided so that the strip may be moved in either direction. In a second embodiment of the invention, the motion transmitting means includes an arcuate friction driving portion on the lever extension of the operating handle, which cooperates with a friction driven rotary member having a one-way clutch means for imparting rotation to one of the spools.

Referring now to Fig. l or the drawings, an addressing machine constructed in accordance with the invention, is shown. The machine includes a housing it of generally semi-cylindrical shape having a partially cut away portion H supporting a substantially flat, upper surface. Disposed across the top or upper surface of housing portion H is a strip of material 12 containing intelligence inscribed thereon by means of the well known hectographing process. Strip 12 ha one of its ends secured to a slot in a first spool 13, best seen in Fig. 2, that is rotatably mounted on housing i l, and adapted to have the strip wound thereon. The remaining end of strip I2 is secured to a slot in a second spool Hi rotatably mounted on housing H parallel to and disposed from the first spool i3, and also adapted to have strip l2 wound thereon. Mounted on the top of housing Ii midway spools l3 and Hi is an adjustable top plate 15 having a turned up back edge 15, and as is also shown in Fig. 2, an elongated, rectangular aperture 11 providing access to a back plate i8. Strip I2 is stretched between each of the spools i3 and 14 over the portion of back plate i8 exposed by aperture H in such a manner that the intelligence inscribed on the strip i2 is bared. Disposed over the portion of strip l2 bared by aperture I! is a pressure device comprising a piece of sponge rubber It or the like secured to a mounting bar 2%. Mounting bar 2! is operatively connected to an operating member or handle comprising a transversely extending arm 22 having one end pivotally secured to housing ill, and a handle portion 2 3 secured to the other end. Mounting bar 21 is secured to operating member 22 between handle portion 24 and the pivot points of the arm at a point approximately one-fourth of the distance from the pivoted end of arm 22 so as to be aligned over back plate 18.

In order to operate the machine, a sheet of paper 25 to which the intelligence on strip 12 is to be transcribed, is placed on the top of housing I I,

and positioned over pressure plate area l8, and the portion of strip I2 exposed by aperture l1. Operating member 22, it is then pressed down, forcing the sheet 2?: against that portion of strip 12 to be transcribed, and transferring the necessary intelligence to sheet 25. Handle bar 24 is then lifted upwardly, by hand pressure aided by a bias spring 26 shown in Fig. 2, and sheet 25 removed. In order to transcribe the next succeeding area of intelligence on strip i2, the takeup spool, which is determined by whatever direction strip (2 is being moved, must be rotated a certain amount. To prevent the operator from having to manually crank a new or fresh portion of strip i2 over back plate area 18, between each operation of operating member 22, motion transmitting means are provided for transmitting the recovery motion of operating member 22 to whichever one of the pools 13 or id is the take-up spool. The motion transmitting means comprises a mechanism for rotating the take-up spool in one direction only, a variable amount determined by the movement of the operating member 22. Thus, by controlling the distance which he retracts operating member 22 upwardly, the operator can feed a fresh or untranscribed portion of the strip !2 into transcribing position.

Referring next to Fig. the motion transmitting means of the embodiment of the invention'shown in Fig. 1, includes a lever extension 21 connected to operating member 22. As is best shown in Fig. i, lever extension 2'! has an arcuate geared portion 28 which meshes with, and drives an elongated main driving gear 29. Driving gear 23 is rotatably mounted on a drive shaft 31, that is journalled in housing It, and an inner portion 32 of the housing, and is longitudinally movable with respect thereto. Fixed to the end of drive shaft 31 adjacent main driving gear 29 is a stop plate 33, best shown in Fig.

5, having an engaging means thereon which comprises a projection 34. Stop plate 33 constitutes a portion of a one-way clutch means for imparting one-way rotation to drive shaft 3|, from the two-way rotation imparted to main driving gear 29 by the arcuate gear tooth portion 29 of operating member lever extension 21. The remaining portions of the one-way clutch means include a rotatable plate member 36, having a resilient wiper 37 that is flexible in one direction only, and that is mounted on plate 96 by means of a pedestal 33. Plate member 36 also has an elongated aperture 39 formed therein which, in conjunction with pedestal 99 and projection 34, provides a lost motion connection to stop plate 33 for a purpose hereinafter to be explained. Wiper 37 is designed in such a fashion that rotation of main driving gear 29 in a counterclockwise direction causes the wiper to be lifted over each successive tooth of gear 29; thereby allowing gear 29 to rotate freely with re spect to drive shaft 3!. However, upon main driving gear 29 being rotated in a clockwise direction during the upward or return stroke of operating member 2 5, wiper 3! engages one of the teeth on gear member 29 in the manner shown. Due to the fact that wiper 37 will not flex when the gear member is rotated in this direction, rotatable plate 39 is rotated to the position where the end of aperture 39 engages projection 39 on plate member 33; main gear 29, rotatable plate member 96, plate 33, and drive shaft 3! ar then rotated in synchronism to thereby move a fresh portion of strip l2 into transcribing position. Upon operating member 22 being moved in an opposite direction on its downward or impressing stroke, main gear 29 and rotatable plate 96 are rotated counterclockwise with respect to stop plate 33, to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. This occurs due to the fact that the inertia of rotatable plate 36 is not sufiicient to overcome the resiliency of wiper 31. However, upon pedestal 3B reaching the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, projection 34 engages the opposite end of aperture 39, and, due to the fact that the combined inertia of plate 33 and drive shaft 9| is sufficient to overcome the resilience of wiper 31, gear 29 is allowed to rotate freely with respect to drive shaft 3i. It is this feature, that is, the freedom of movement for projection 39 within aperture 39, that provides the necessary lost motion between movement of the operating handle and movement of strip I2; thereby allowing pressure device l 9 to be lifted a distance sufficient to permit the operator to remove the imprinted sheet and insert another for duplicate addressing prior to a new portion of strip 12 being moved into transcribing position.

Fixed to the end of drive shaft 3! opposite main driving gear 29, is a secondary driving gear 4!. Immediately adjacent secondary driving gear 41 is afirst spool driving means comprising a gear wheel 42 fixed to a drive shaft 93 for spool M that is journalled in housing in. In order to impart the rotation of drive shaft 3! to spool l4, drive shaft 3i must be moved longitudinally by an adjusting knob 95 fixed to the end thereof, to position secondary driving gear 4| so that it meshes with spool i9 driving gear 92. Once adjusted, drive shaft 3! is maintained in its set position by a detent device comprising a spring biased ball 46 cooperating'with a plurality of grooves 41 in drive shaft 3!.

Should it be desired to rotate spool 13 and thereby cause reversed movement of the strip I2 across back plate It, means for imparting rotation of shaft 3| to spool i3 is provided. This means comprises a spindle gear 98 rotatably mounted on housing II by means of a shaft 49, and adapted to be engaged by secondary driving gear 4-! upon control knob being moved inwardly toward housing ll. Spindle gear 48 meshes with and drives a second spool driving means comprising a gear wheel 5| fixed to a driv shaft 52 for spool l3. By this means, spool It can be made to act as a take-up spool, drawing strip i2 across back plate is in a direction opposite to that travelled when driving gear 4| meshes with spool Hi driving gear 42.

In addition to the above described structure, th machine further includes a longitudinally movable pin 53 positioned on housing ll parallel to drive shaft 3!, and aligned with an aperture 54 (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3) in lever extension 27 of the operating member 22 when the operating member is in its depressed position. Pin 53 is normally maintained out of engagement with aperture 59 by a biasing spring 55, but has its end engageable by secondary driving gear 4i when the same is positioned inwardly as far as possible. Thus assuming operating member 22 is in the depressed condition, upon control knob 45 being pushed to its innermost position, secondary driving gear 45 engages the end of pin 53, pushing it inwardly against the action of biasing spring 95, and inserting its opposite end into apertur 54. This action results in looking operating member 24 in its depressed condition; thereby facilitating its storage or transportation.

By reason of the above described construction, a direct connection is provided between the operating member 22, and either spool [9 or spool ii, for rotating whichever spool is acting as the take-up spool a variable amount determined by the amount of movement of the operating member 22. Thus, by controlling the height to which he raises the operating member 22 on the return stroke after each operation of the machine, an operator can properly position each intelligence bearing portion of the strip regardless of the fact that the amount of movement imparted to the strip varies with increasing diameter of the spool. Additionally, this feature provides for pcsitioning varying sized intelligence bearing portions of strip I2 so the intelligence after transfer is properly centered on an envelope, or the like. To facilitate such positionin an indication such as the arrow 99 may be provided on the back plate 58. Because either spool It or spool M can be caused to take up strip l2 to move a fresh or untranscribed portion of the same over back plate area I9, it is possible to run a series of transcribing operations through the machine, without the necessity of having to rewind the strip from one of the spools to the other prior to running the series of operations again.

Assuming the strip of material 52 bearing the intelligence to be transcribed has been prepared by the hectographing principle, and it is desired to place the machine in operation, both spools I3 and Hi are identical in construction, and are removably mounted on housin it by means of drive shafts 52 and 43, respectively. As is best shown in Fig. 6, each of the drive shafts 52 and 43, which are identical in construction, has a square block 56 keyed thereto which serves to secure the respective spool to the drive shaft in question. Each of the spools has a square aperture in one end thereof which is adapted to slide over the square block 55, and to be retained in place thereon by a locking pin device The remaining end of the spools have a round aperture therein accommodating the free end of the particular drive shaft in question. In order to install or replace one of the spools, all that is required is that the end of the spool having the square aperture be fitted over the drive shaft, and forced over the lockin pin 51. To remove a spool, the reverse procedure is followed.

Upon completion of the above operation, with operating member 22 in its uppermost position, the free end of strip 12 is fed under one side of top plate i5, over backing plate I8, and under the opposite side of top plate to the remaining spool, in the manner shown in Fig. 1. Assuming that after this operation, spool M constitutes the takeup spool, then control knob 45 should be positioned in order to mesh secondary driving gear 41 with spool Iii driving gear 42. However, should there be a blank area of the strip over back plate area 18, it would be necessary to position a portion of the strip i2 containing intelligence over back plate area 18. To do this, spool i4 is manually cranked by a crank arm 59 to take up the re quired amount of strip 12 necessary to bring the first intelligence bearing portion into alignment with back plate area i8. While this operation is being completed, it is desirable that the spool 13 and ill be free from connection to operating member 22; therefore, a free space is provided for secondary driving gear M between the position in which it engages spool Hi driving gear 42, and the position in which it engages spindle gear 48. For this reason drive shaft 31 is provided with four position determining grooves 47. Thus, when the machine is being initially aligned for operation, adjustment to spools I3 and 14 by means of their respective crank arms 6% and 59, is not transmitted through the clutch means and main driving gear 28 to the operating member 22.

Upon completion of the initial alignment procedure, the sheet of paper, or envelope is positioned over the portion of strip 32 to be transcribed. In positioning the sheet of paper 25, it is inserted between an upper roller 62 mounted on the top of housing H, and a lower resilient roller 83, best shown in Fig. 7, that is biased into engagement with upper roller 62 by a spring 64. Lower roller 63 is positioned in a well containing a moistening liquid supplied thereto by a bottle container 55, and both of the rollers are aligned with the exposed portion of strip A2 to be transcribed. Tnus, upon the envelope 25 being rolled into position, the lower roller 63 serves to moisten the surface thereof that comes into contact with the intelligence bearing portion of strip 12, with the moistening liquid. The molstening liquid is then transferred to the intelligence characters on the list, to moisten them sufiiciently to effect a transfer of its character to the surface of the envelope. This construction of rollers 62 and '53 makes it possible to mount spring 6 within housing ii, thereby reducing the number of elements mounted on top of the machine, and simplifying its construction. To further simplify the machine, the top plate l5 serves the dual function of providing a platform upon which the envelope or sheets of paper being addressed can be disposed, as Well as acting as a guide to facilitate placing the sheets of paper or envelopes in a transcribing position. While the preferred construction of the machine utilizes the above described hectograph method of intelligence transfer, it is to be understood that the invention is to be in no way restricted to use with hectographed strips, for the novel strip feeding mechanism of the machine would find utility in other machines of the same general type.

After lining up the envelope 25 over the area of strip 52 to be transcribed in the above manner, operating member 22 is then depressed against the action of tension spring 25 best seen in Fig. 2. Tension spring 26 is connected between housing iii and a crank arm 57 fixed to the end of a shaft 63. Shaft 58 is journalled in housing H, and is fixed to the leg of operating member 22 so as to bias the operating member upwardly, making it easier to raise. Adverting to Fig. 3, the downward movement of operating member 22 causes the arcuate geared portion of lever extension 2'! to rotate main driving gear 29 counterclockwise, and, as is best seen in Fig. 5 (which shows a reverse View of the gear from that shown in Fig. 3) rotation of main driving gear 29 in a counterclockwise direction does not impart movement to drive shaft 3!; therefore strip 12 remains stationary while pressure device is presses envelope 25 against strip 12 to effect transfer of the intelligence on strip l2 to the envelope. After the application of pressure by device it, operating member 22 is lifted upwardly, causing main driving gear 29 to be rotated clockwise from its position shown in Fig. 5. While this action causes pressure device (9 to be lifted off backing plate is, it does not cause strip l2 to be immediately moved due to the lost motion connection provided by aperture 39 and projection 33. Consequently the operator of the machine can remove the envelope just addressed, and impress additional envelopes with the same address before strip I2 is moved for the next succeeding operation. Further upward movement of operating member 22 causes further clockwise rotation of main driving gear 29, and results in the end of elongated aperture 33 coming into contact with projection 33, and imparting rotation to drive shaft 3i. The rotation of drive shaft 3i is then transmitted through secondary driving gear 4i and spool l4 driving gear 2 to the spool i i, and results in bringing a fresh or untranscribed portion of the strip l2 into alignment with back plate area 18. Should the operator raise operating member 22 to too great a height, thereby causing the strip to overshoot its proper transcribing position, one of the crank arms 59 or so can be manually operated to bring the strip back into position. The foregoing operation is then repeated for as many times as there are names to be imprinted.

Upon all of strip it! being wound on to spool i l, it is not necessary to manually rewind the information bearing portion of the strip on a particular spool before the list of names can be used again. For the next use of the machine, all that is required is that control knob 45 be positioned to bring secondary driving gear 4! into engagement with spindle gear 48. Upon the operating member being moved upward from its working stroke, the rotation of drive shaft 3| is imparted through spindle gear 48 and spool i3 driving gear iii to the spool E3, to move strip i2 back across back plate area it in a direction opposite to that when spool i l driving gear is engaged by secondary driving gear 4!. Thus a substantial savings in time is effected due to the fact that it is not necessary to rewind the strip for feeding in a certain direction after each use of a spool,

Referring now to Fig. 9 of the drawings, a second embodiment of the motion transmitting means is shown for imparting movement to one of the spools, preferably spool i i, upon the oper ating member 22 being moved. This embodiment of the motion transmitting means utilizes a friction drive including an arcuately shaped frictional engaging portion H formed on lever extension 2?. As is best shown in Fig. 8 the arcuate engaging portion ll is adapted to seat in an annular groove formed on the outer surface of a generally cylindrical rotary member 72. Rotary member 72 is rotatably mounted on a shaft '13 fixed to housing It and rotatably supporting spool I l, and has a ratchet wheel portion i l formed on its end, the configuration of which is best shown in Fig. 9. Ratchet wheel portion "i l of rotary member T2 is disposed Within spool i lin the manner shown in Fig. 8, and has a plurality of roller bearings 16 spaced about its periphery. Roller bearings 16 are rollingly seated in the grooves formed by the teeth of the ratchet Wheel, and, together with ratchet wheel portion 14 constitute a one-way rotation imparting clutch.

Upon operating member 22 being lifted upwardly from its position shown in Fig. 9, the friction engaging portion l! rides into the groove on rotary member 12, rotating member 12 in a clockwise direction from its position shown in Fig. 9. Rotation of the ratchet wheel portion i l of rotary member 12 in a clockwise direction, causes the roller bearings l6 to be rolled outwardly along the sloping edge of the ratchet wheel teeth, and to engage the inner surface of spool is. Upon engaging the inner surface of spool i i, further outward movement of the roller bearings 55, is prevented, and they serve to lock spool i i together with rotary member 72; thereby causing the spool to rotate in synchronism with the rotation of rotary member '52. Upon operating member 22 reaching the upper end of its travel, and being forced downwardly on its working stroke, friction engaging portion ll again engages the groove in rotary member 172, and rotates that member in a counterclockwise direction from its position shown in Fig. 9. Rotation of member 12 in a counterclockwise direction causes the roller bearing 16 to 'be rolled backwardly into the grooves formed by the teeth of the ratchet wheel portion i l, and to remain out of contact with the inner surface of spool hi. By this action, roller bearings F6 are maintained out of engagement with the inner surface of spool It, allowing rotary member E2 to rotate freely in a counterclockwise direction with respect to spool l4. Thus, it is seen that the ratchet wheel portion i l, rotary member '52, together with the roller bearings F6 provide a one-way motion imparting clutching action between rotary mean her 72?. and spool i i.

In order that there be a certain amount of lost motion when operating member 22 is lifted upwardly after completion of the pressing action described in the preceding paragraph, a notch ll is formed in the end of the friction engaging portion l! of lever extension 23. This notch is designed so that the operating member 26 may be lifted a distance suiiicient for the operator to remove a sheet of paper being addressed prior to the friction driving portion ll coming into engagement with the groove in rotary member l2; thereby providing the required amount of lost motion. In the event that this embodiment of the motion transmitting means is used on the addressing machine, no provision is made for driving the forward spool l3. Therefore, after the completion of a series of stamping operations, and upon reaching the end of the strip l2, it is necessary to manually crank the list back onto the forward spool 53 before the machine can again be operated. In other respects, the operation of this embodiment of the machine is identical to that described with regard to the embodiment of the machine shown in Fig. 2.

From the foregoing description, it can be appreciated that the invention provides an addressing machine incorporating an automatically operating means under the operators control for feeding the list of intelligence to be transcribed between each successive transcribing operation. This means operates simultaneously with movement of the machine operating handle, and is controlled by the movement of the handle. Thus, when the take-spool is almost empty, and its diameter is small, the handle can be raised to a greater height in order to effect suflicient rotation of the spool to move the next desired intelligence bearing portion of the list into transcribing position. When the take-up spool becomes larger in diameter the handle can be raised to a lesser height in order to move the next desired intelligence bearing portion of the list into printing position. Therefore, the machine allows the operator to easily center the intelligence area to be transcribed by merely varying the distance which he raises the operating handle of the machine. This feature also makes it much easier for an operator to properly center addresses having two lines, three lines, or four lines, on the paper to which the intelligence is being transcribed.

The lost motion provided in the motion transmitting means between the operating handle and the take-up spool, allows the handle to be raised a certain distance before the intelligence bearing strip is caused to move. This permits the last transcribed sheet of paper to be removed from its printing position before the strip is moved. Thus, desired multiple impressions may be made a of an address, after which the strip may then be moved by lifting slightly on handle 22.

The single piece adjustable cover and guide plate provides both an upper cover for the housing of the machine, as well as a guide plate for assuring that the paper being addressed is properly centered on the machine. This construction, results in saving amount of material that would otherwise be required to furnish a separate top plate and paper guide. The machine is further simplified. by placing the hard fixed roller of the moistening means in the upper position, and the resiliently mounted moistening pick-up roller in the lower position; thereby doing away with a need for additional structure on the top surface of the machine to provide the resilient mounting.

In one embodiment of the machine, provision is made for the application of the spool take-up power either to the rear, or the front spool containing the list. This feature permits the list to be used in a sequence of operation without the bother of having to rewind the list each time on a particular original spool. In the same embodithe longitudinal adjustment provided for the drive shaft 3! permits easy adjustment of the machine for back spool take-up operation, initial alignment operation, front spool take-up operation, and lock down setting of the handle. The invention further provides a novel friction driven, one-way clutch means for transmitting the motion of the machine operating handle to a takeup spool.

In a second embodiment of the machine, a novel friction driven, motionimparting means is provided for imparting one-way rotation to only one of the spools on the machine.

Obviously, other modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings; therefore, it is to be understood that such changes are within the full intended scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An addressing machine for transferring intelligence inscribed on a strip of material including, a housing, a first spool rotatably mounted on said housing for receiving said strip of material, means including a pressure device for coacting with said strip of material to transcribe the intelligence thereon, an operating handle pivotally mounted on said housing and reciprocable a variable amount to move said pressure device to and from said strip material, said pressure device being operatively connected to and operable by said operating handle, and motion transmitting means operatively connected to said operating handle and to said spool for selectively rotating the said spool in one direction only, a variable amount determined by the extent of movement of said operating handle in the direction to move said pressure device away from said strip material, said motion transmitting means including spool driving means operatively connected to said spool, and lost motion clutch means operatively connecting said spool driving means to said op erating handle during a portion of the movement of said operating handle in the direction to move said pressure device away from said strip material.

2. An addressing machine for transferring the intelligence inscribed on a strip of paper in an ink to a second sheet of paper, said machine including in combination, a housing, a first spool rotatably mounted on said housing and adapted to have one end of the strip of paper wound thereon, a second spool rotatably mounted on said housing and positioned parallel to and spaced from said first spool and adapted to have the remaining end of the strip of paper wound thereon, a backing plate positioned on said housing midway between said spools and adapted to have the strip of paper movably positioned there across, moistening means mounted on said housing and aligned with said backing plate for adapting the ink on the strip of paper for transfer, a pressure plate coacting with said backing plate and the strip of paper for transferring the intelligence thereon, an operating member pivotally mounted on said housing to be reciprocabl in two directions a variable amount and including a lever extension, said pressure device being mounted on said operating member and positioned over said backing plate to be moved to and from said backing plate upon reciprocation of said operating member, motion transmitting means including a lost motion connection and a one-way clutch operatively connected to said lever extension and to at least one of said spools for selectively rotating the said spool in one direction only in response to movement of said operating member in the direction which moves said pressure device away from said backing plate, said motion transmitting means causing rotation of said one spool by a variable amount determined by and continuously variable with the movement of said operating member beyond a first predetermined amount of movement in the direction to move said pressure plate away from said backing plate, and a cover member slidably mounted on said housing and having openings therein providing access to said backing plate and to said moistening means, said cover member also having a turned up edge and serving as an adjustable guide for positioning the material to be addressed on said machine.

3. Addressing machine for transferring the intelligence inscribed on a strip of material to a second carrier including a housing, a first spool rotatably mounted on said housing and adapted to have one end of said strip of material secured thereto, a second spool parallel to and spaced from said first spool rotatably mounted on said housing and adapted to have the remaining end of said strip of material secured thereto, means including a pressure device for coacting with the portion of said strip of material between said spools to transcribe the intelligence thereon to the second carrier, an operating handle pivotally mounted on said housing and having a geared lever extension, spool driving means including a longitudinally adjustable drive shaft selectively connectible to at least one of said spools for rotating the same, a main drive gear meshing with said geared lever extension, and lost motion clutch means operatively connectingsaid main drive gear to said spool driving means for selectively rotating the said spool in one direction only a distance determined by the amount of movement of said operating handle, and operating handle locking means for locking said handle in a depressed position to facilitate storage and handling of said machine. said drive shaft being longitudinally adjustable to provide rotation of one of said spools in one direction, rotation of the other of said spools in a reverse direction. neutral rotation of said drive shaft whereby neither of said spools is rotated, and operating handle locked down condition.

4. A machine for acting upon a strip of material having items of intelligence of different lengths inscribed along the strip, said machine including in combination, a housing having an operating position thereon, first and second spools rotatably mounted on said housing for receiving th strip of material thereon, said spools supporting the strip for movement along said operating position, an operating member mounted for guided movement on said housing and reiprocably movable a variable amount in first and second opposite directions, said machine having means acting on the portion of the strip at said operating position in response to movement of said member in said first direction, and motion transmitting means operatively connected to said operating member and selectivel' connected to said spools, said motion transmitting means including lost motion clutch means permitting first movement of said operating member in said second direction while disengaged from said spools and operatively connecting one of said spools to said operating member during further movement of said operating member in said second direction, with the amount of movement of said one spool and of the strip thereon being proportional to the extent of movement of said member in said second direction, said clutch means including means for releasing said spools from said operating member during movement thereof in said first direction.

5. A machine for acting upon a strip of mate rial having items of intelligence of different lengths inscribed along the strip, said machine including in combination, a housing having an operating position thereon, first and second spools rotatably mounted on said housing for receiving the strip of material thereon, said spools supporting the strip for movement along said operat ing position, an operating member mounted for guided movement on housing and reciprocably movable a variable amount in first and second opposite directions, said machine having means acting on the portion or the strip at said operating position in response to movement of said member in said first direction, and motion transmitting means operatively connected to said operating member and one of said spools, said motion transmitting means including lost motion clutch means holding said one spool disengaged from said operating member during first movement thereof in said second direction and eperatively connecting said one spool to said operating member during further movement of said operating member in said second direction, with the amount of movement of said one spool and of the strip thereon being proportional to the extent of movement of said member in said second direction, said clutch means including means for releasing said one spool from said operating member during movement thereof in said first direction.

6. A machine for acting upon a strip material having items of intelligence of different lengths inscribed along the strip, said machine including in combination, a housing havin an operating position thereon, first and second spools rotatably mounted on said housing for receiving the strip of material thereon, said spools supporting the strip for movement along said operating position, an operating member mounted for guided movement on said housing and reciprocably movable a variable amount in first and second opposite directions, said machine having means acting on the portion of the strip at said operating position in response to movement of said member in said first direction, and motion transmitting means operatively connected to said operating member and selectively connected to said spools, said motion transmitting means including lost motion clutch means and gear means providin selective operative connection with said first and second spools, said lost motion clutch means holding said gear means disengaged from said operating member during first movement thereof in second direction and operatively connecting said gear means to said operating member during further movement of said operating member in said second direction, with the amount of movement of said one spool and of the strip thereon being proportional to the extent of movement of said member in said second direction, said clutch means including means for releasing said gear means from said operating member during movement thereof in said first direction, said gear means having a first position for driving said first spool for moving the strip across said operating position in one direction, and a second position for driving said second spool for moving the strip across said operating position in the opposite direction.

7. An addressing machine for transferring the intelligence inscribed on a strip of material to a sheet of paper including in combination, a housing, a first spool rotatably mounted on said housing and adapted to have one end of the '14 strip of material wound thereon, a second spool parallel to and spaced from said first spool rotatably mounted on said housing and adapted to have the remaining end of the strip of material wound thereon, means including a pressure device for ooacting with the portion or" said strip of material between said spools to transcribe the intelligence thereon, an operating member mounted on said housing for reciprocal movement of a variable amount and having a geared lever extension, said pressure device being operatively connected to and movable to and from the strip material by said operating member, spool driving means operatively connected to at least one of said spools for rotating the same, a main drive gear meshing with said geared lever extension, and clutch means operatively connecting said main drive gear to said spool driving means for selectively rotating the said spool in one direction only a distance determined by and continuously variable with the amount of movement of said operating member in a selected direction to move said pressure device away from said strip material, said spool driving means includinga drive shaft journalled in said housing and longitudinally movable with respect thereto, first spool driving means rotatably mounted on said housing, second spool driving means rotatably mounted on said housing, said drive shaft being longitudinally adjustable from a first position engaging said first spool driving means to a second position engaging said second spool driving means to selectively rotate either said first spool or said second spool.

8. An addressing machine for transferring the intelligence inscribed on a strip of material to a sheet of paper including in combination, a housing, a first spool rotatably mounted on said housing and adapted to have one end of the strip of material wound thereon, a second spool parallel to and spaced from said first spool rotatably mounted on said housing and adapted to have the remaining end of the strip of material wound thereon, means including a pressure device for coaotin with the portion of said strip of material between said spools to transcribe the intelli ence thereon, an operating member mounted on said housing for reciprocal movement of a variable amount and having a geared lever extension, said pressure device being operatively obnnected to and movable to and from the strip material by said operating member, spool driving means operatively connected to at least one of said spools for rotating the same, a main drive gear meshing with said geared lever extension, and clutch means operatively connecting said main drive gear to said spool driving means for selectively rotating the said spool in one direction onh a distance determined by and continuously variable with the amount of movement of said operating member in a selected direction to move said pressure device away from strip material, said spool driving means including a drive shaft journalled on said housing and longitudinally movable with respect thereto, a secondary drive gear fixed to the end of said drive shaft opposite said main drive gear, a first driven gear fixed to an extension of the drive shaft of said first spool and meshing with said secondary drive gear upon said drive shaft being positioned in one of its operative positions, a spindle gear rotatabiy mounted on said housing adjacent said drive shaft, and a second driven gear keyed to an extension of the drive shaft of said second spool meshing with said spindle gear, said drive 15 shaft being adjustable longitudinally to selectively engage said secondary driving gear with either said first driven gear or said spindle gear.

9, An addressing machine for transferring the intelligence inscribed on a strip of material to a sheet of paper including in combination, a housing, a first spool rotatably mounted on said housing and adapted to have one end of the strip of material wound thereon, a second spool parallel to and spaced from said first spool rotatably mounted on said housing and adapted to have the remaining end of the strip of material Wound thereon, means including a pressure device ior coacting with the portion of said strip of material between said spools to transcribe the intelligence thereon, an operating member mounted on said housing for reciprocal move ment of a variable amount and having a geared lever extension, said pressure device being operatively connected to and movable to and from the strip material by said operating member, spool driving means operatively connected to at least one of said spools for rotating the same, a main drive gear meshing with said geared. lever extension, and clutch means operatively connecting said main drive gear to said spool driving means for selectively rotating the said spool in one direction only a distance determined by and continuously variable with the amount of movement of said operating member in a selected direction to move said pressure device away from said strip material, said spool driving means including a drive shaft journalled on said housing and rotatably supporting said main drive gear, and said clutch means including a first member rotatably mounted on said drive shaft and having an elongated arcuate aperture therein, a one-way resilient wiper secured to one side of said member and engaging the teeth of said main drive gear, and a second member fixed to said drive shaft and having a projection on one side thereof protruding into the aperture on said first mentioned plate member whereby said drive shaft is rotated in a direction dependent upon the direction of rotation of said main drive gear, said aperture providing lost motion between movement of the operating member and rotation of said drive shaft whereby said pressure device may be moved away from its position nearest said strip material a predetermined distance prior to rotation of the spool being driven.

10. An addressing machine for transferring the intelligence inscribed on a strip of material to a sheet of paper including in combination, a housing, a first spool rotatably mounted on said housing and adapted to have one end of the strip of material wound thereon, a second spool parallel to and spaced from said first spool rotatably mounted on said housing and adapted to have the remaining end of the strip of material wound thereon, means including a pressure device for coacting with the portion of said strip of material between said spools to transcribe the intelligence thereon, an operating member mounted on said housing for reciprocal movement or" a variable amount and having a geared lever extension, said pressure device being operatively connected to and movable to and from the strip material by said operating member, spool driving means operatively connected to at least one of said spools for rotating the same, a main drive gear meshing with said geared lever extension, and clutch means operatively connecting said main drive gear to said spool driving means for selectively rotating the said spool in one direction only a distance determined by and continuously variable with the amount of movement of said operating member in a selected direction to move said pressure device away from said strip material, said spool driving means including a drive shaft journalled on said housing and longitudinally movable with respect thereto, a secondary drive gear secured to said drive shaft, a first spool drive gear adapted to mesh with said secondary driving gear fixed to an extension of the drive shaft of said first spool, a spindle gear rotatably mounted on said housing and adapted to mesh with said secondary driving gear, a second spool driving gear meshing with said spindle gear and fixed to an extension of the drive shaft of said second spool, said drive shaft being longitudinally adjustable to position said secondary driving gear to engage either said first spool driving gear or said spindle gear, and said clutch means compris ng a first plate member rotatably mounted on said drive shaft and having an elongated arcuate aperture therein, a one-way resilient wiper secured to said plate member and engaging the teeth of said main driving gear, and a second plate member keyed to said drive shaft and having a projection thereon protruding into said arcuate aperture whereby said plates in conjunction vvith said wiper operate as a lost-motion one-way rotation imparting clutch.

11. A machine for acting upon a strip of material having items of intelligence of different lengths inscribed along the strip, said machine including in combination, housing means having an operating position thereon, first and second spaced spools rotatably mounted on said housing means for receiving the strip of material thereon and supporting the same so that it extends along said operating position, an operating member mounted on said housing means and reciprocably movable in first and second directions, with the amount of movement in said first direction being variable, said machine having means acting on said strip in response to movement of said membe in said second direction, and motion transmitting means operatively connected to said operating member and to one of said spools for selectively rotating said spool in one direction only in response to movement of said operating member in said first direction, said motion transmitting means causing rotation of said spool by an amount which is continuously and directly proportional to the amount of movement of said operating member in said first direction, whereby the position of each item of intelligence with respect to said operating position can be accurately controlled by the movement of said member, said motion transmitting means including spool driving means having a rotary member with a friction engaging portion rotatively mounted on said housing, and in which said operating member includes a lever extension having an arcuate friction engaging portion designed to cooperate with said friction engaging portion of said spool driving means to rotate the same, said friction engaging portion or" said lever extension being constructed to provide lost motion between the movement of said lever extension and the rotation of said spool driving means, said rotary member including clutch means for selectively connecting said rotary member to said one spool during rotation of said rotary member in one direction only.

12. A machine for acting upon a strip of material having items of intelligence of different lengths inscribed along the strip, said machine including in combination, housing means having an operating position thereon, first and second spaced spools rotatably mounted on said housing means for receiving the strip of material thereon and supporting the same so that it extends along said operating position, an operating member mounted on said housing means and reciprocably movable in first and second directions, with the amount of movement in said first direction being variable, said machine having means acting on said strip in response to movement of said member in said second direction, and motion transmitting means operatively connected to said operating member and to one of said spools for selectively rotating said spool in one direction only in response to movement of said operating member in said first direction, said motion transmitting means causing rotation of said spool by an amount which is continuously and directly proportional to the amount of movement of said operating member in said first direction, whereby the position of each item of intelligence with respect to said operating position can be accurately controlled by the movement of said member, said motion transmitting means including spool driving means having a drive shaft and a rotary member rotatively mounted on said drive shaft, said rotary member including a friction engaging portion and a ratchet wheel portion disposed 18 within said one spool and having teeth with sloping edges, and in which said operating member includes a lever extension having an arcuate friction engaging portion designed to cooperate with the friction engaging portion of said rotary member to rotate the same, said friction engaging portion of said lever extension being constructed to provide lost motion between the movement of said lever extension and rotation of said rotary member, said ratchet portion of said rotary member having roller bearings between the teeth thereof for rotating said one spool in response to rotation of said rotary member in one direction which causes said roller bearings to move outwardly from the axis of said rotary member on the sloping edges of said teeth to engage said one spool and rotate the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 230,621 Edison Aug. 3, 1880 1,162,620 Lee Nov. 30, 1915 1,200,414 Dolcater Oct. 3, 1916 1,250,790 Brownson Dec. 18, 1917 1,319,568 Dahl Oct. 21, 1919 1,649,021 De Minico Nov. 15, 1927 1,965,578 Colquhoun July 10, 1934 2,503,185 Wright Apr. 4, 1950 2,542,448 Weber Feb. 20, 1951 

